House



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

P. NEWHOUSE & H. MOOERS.

FIRE 'ESOAPE.

Patented May-15, 1883.

\ WITNESSES (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

F. NEWHOUSE &H. MOOERS.

FIRE ESCAPE. N0. 277,600. Patented May 15,1883.

N. Pnzas Pmmmm mr. Washinglan. n. cy

UNITED STATES ATENF Erro s.

FREDERICK NEWHOUSE ANI) HENRY MOUEHS, 0F TOLEDO, OHIO.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 277,600, dated May 15,

Application tiled February 14, 1883. ('No model.)

To tell whom it may concern Be it known that we, FREDERICK NEW- HOUSE and HENRY Moonns, citizens of the UnitedStates,residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Fire Escape and Alarm, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to fire-escapes, and has for its object to provide a simple and efli. cient device that can be conveniently thrown into operation at any instantand sound an alarm to the inmates of the building in which the device is located when it .is thus operated.

in the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view ot'a building provided with our improved escape and alarm mechanism, show ing the said mechanism in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the fire-escape. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line :1: r, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the device. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a section of the flexible ladder. Fig. 6 is a horizontal transverse sectional view of the said ladder in detail. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the bottom rung of the ladder.

Referring to the drawings, Adesignates the frame of our device, which is to be secured at some suitable place in the top of the building, preferably, as herein shown, just under the roof B. In the frame A are formed bearings (I) for a drum, D, to which is secured a flexible ladder, E, that is arranged to hang from the sill F of a window or opening, G, in the wall of the building. These bearings G O are formed by slots 11 H in the frame A, which slots are arranged to receive the ends I I of the shaftJ of the rotary drum. The front portion of these slots H H is filled with an elastic packing, K, for the following purpose: When the drum is released, in case of fire, the ladder will by its gravity turn the drum and descend to the ground, and the momentum will of course increase as the descent is made. This increase of momentum causes a corresponding increase in the revolution of the drum, which might occasion damage to the escape;

K the increasing weight of theladder as it descends will draw the drum forward against but by reason of the elastic packing suitably-disposed brakes, L L. These brakes L L are arranged on the ends of angnlararms M M, that project from the sides of the frame A,as shown. An automatic brake mechanism is thus provided that will regulate and equat ize the speed at which the ladder descends.

The rotary drum 1) comprises a cylindrical portion, N, on which the flexible ladder is wound, and end flanges, O O, to retain the latter on the central portion. These flanges O preferably have their outside faces, 1, formed with a recess, Q, for economy in space andin weight. From thet'accP of oneorboth of the flanges O 0. projects a pin, R, that engages the hammer S of a bell or gong, T, secured on the frame A. at each revolution ofthe drum. This gong will therefore sound an alarm as the ladder descends, and can be connected with other bells or gongs to sound alarms simultaneously at different points in the building. The shalt Jot the drum is provided with a crank or handle, U, for winding theladder on the latter when this becomes necessary. The drum is normally secured stationary by means of a lever, V, fulcrumed on the frame A, as at W, and carrying a pawl, X, that engages a notch,Y,in the periphery of the flange 0. To the free end of this lever V is secured a trip rope or cord, Z, that extends to any desired point in the building. By operating this rope the lever is drawn down until the pawl be;

comes disengaged from the notch, when the gravityof the laddercauses ittoturn the drum and descend to the ground.

In connection with our improved fire-escape, mechanism may be used by which an alarm can be given from different points in the building to the place where the trip-rope Z terminatesas, for instance, in the office of a hotel and suitable indicating mechanism can be e1nployed to indicate the place in the building at which the alarm was given. The person in charge can then locate the fire, and by simply pulling the trip-ropes Z all the escapes can be thrown into operation, and the drums will sound an alarm to all the inmates of the build-' ing as the ladders descend into position.

The flexible ladder consists of two strands, A A of wire cables or rope, on which are socured castings or blocks B by means of per- LII a ea'aeeo forations O in the latter. in which the rope A is fitted. These blocks B are provided with recesses D in their inner faces, E in which are secured the ends F of the rungs G these latter being formed preferably by tubing, as shown. The bottom rung, E of the ladder is loaded or weighted with lead, 1 or other material, and the bottom blocks, B 13 are provided with hooks J which are adapted to engage rings or hooks K secured in the pavement.

By means of these hooks and rings the ladder is secured in vertical position, so that descent on itcan lie-accomplished both on the side next the building and on its outside.

The operation and advantages of ourinvention are obvious. ltis very simple in construction, and can be conveniently and instantly operated in case of fire. When notin use itis almost bid from view, and will not in any way mar the appearance of the building.

We claim as our invention- 1. The combination of a rotary drum having hearings in which is arranged an elastic packing, against the tension of which the drum is arranged to be moved forward automatically, a flexible ladder orits equivalent arranged on the drum and adapted to descend by its own gravity, and brakes against which the drum is carried by the descent of theladder, as set forth.

2. Theeornbinationofthc framehavingbearin g-slots in which is arranged an elastic packing and carrying brakes, a rotary drum journaled in the said bearings and arranged to be drawn in contact with the brakes against the said packing, and the flexible ladder secured to the drum, and adapted to turn the latterand descend by its own gravity, as set forth.

'3. The combination of the frame having the slots that provide bearings, elastic packing arranged in these slots, and the projecting angular arms carrying the brakes, the rotary drum journaled in the slots and having end flanges arranged to automatically engage the brakes,

the flexible ladder secured to the drum and arranged to fall or descend by its own gravity, and a trip-lever carrying a pawl that engages a notch in the periphery of the drum, as set forth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto affixed our signatures in presence ofrtwo witnesses.

FREDERICK NEWHOUSE. HENRY MOOERS.

\Vitnesses:

HENRY O. Nooians, E. T. LEWIS. 

